Intel Core Series is a Windows gadget that allows you to view the processor information on your desktop. You can use this tool if you want to keep an eye on your CPU temperature and usage with minimum effort.

When you overclock your processor or use it for intensive tasks such as video processing, you might need to watch for temperature spikes in order to prevent system instability. This gadget allows you to cease the task or to take other measures before things get too hot.

The tool is designed for the Intel Core CPUs and is able to display detailed information about every core of the processor. You can also view the usage history in a customizable graph in order to view the peak moments. Unfortunately, you cannot change the size of the gadget which can be tough to read on high resolution monitors.

Adjust the entire aspect of the app by changing the background color of the graph in order to match the current desktop theme. If you prefer the imperial system you need to change the temperature measurement unit in the Options menu.

The temperature of the CPU is based on the WinRing0 driver that is included in the download package and can be installed with just a click. The driver can be reinitialized after a certain time interval in order to prevent misreading.

You can take advantage of the gadget's ability to automatically adjust to the number of cores in order to monitor other multicore processors such as the Intel Core i7. But the main advantage remains the fact that you do not need to install other applications for getting the basic information about your CPU.

The Intel Core Series is a useful addition to the Windows Sidebar for the users that want basic information about their Intel processor.

Intel Core Series was reviewed by Sorin Cirneala, last updated on October 1st, 2012